The tournament, in its 25th year, has become a favourite with ball teams from Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. Many teams have participated at the event since its inception. This year, 24 union-sponsored Slo-Pitch teams are signed up to play.
The event raises awareness and funds for Child Find B.C., a non-profit that works with families and law enforcement to reduce the incidence of missing and exploited children.
“This is the biggest fundraiser of the summer for Child Find B.C.,” said Crystal Dunahee, the organization’s president.
“The money raised through the Tournament of Hope — nearly $14,000 in 2015 — goes toward printing costs for literature and the All About Me ID kits.”
There will be games of slo-pitch softball on both days, including a children’s game that starts at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Players with children will appreciate the free child care provided by licensed child-care professionals on site from CUPE 2081 (Camosun College).
Stick around to watch skydivers descend on the softball diamond about 4 p.m. Sunday to pick the winner of the grand prize, donated this year by Pacific Coastal Airlines.
While everybody will be having a good time, the underlying reason for the event is to create awareness about missing children. More than 41,000 cases of missing children were reported in Canada in 2014.
“Our children are going missing for a variety of reasons in this province and in Canada,” said Dunahee, whose son Michael disappeared in 1991. “The magnitude of this problem is staggering with so many children reported as missing, and it is devastating their families.”
The services provided by Child Find B.C., including identification kits and public education, are provided at no cost to parents and affected communities.
The games are free to watch. They run 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Topaz Park, Blanshard and Finlayson streets. The Dunahee family run a concession at the event.
For more information, go to childfindbc.com.
Blood-donor restrictions eased
Thousands more people might be eligible to donate blood, thanks to recent changes to policies and donor restrictions by Canadian Blood Services.
The changes to broaden the pool of eligible donors are timely, as the agency needs to attract about 100,000 new donors to support the national blood supply.
“Canadian Blood Services regularly reviews the criteria used to determine if someone is eligible to donate blood, including geographic and age restrictions based on new scientific information,” said Dr. Mindy Goldman, medical director of donor and clinical services with the agency. “These restrictions are no longer necessary. We estimate that about 3,000 people who try to donate each year but cannot will now be eligible to donate due to these changes.”
The following changes are now in effect:
• The upper age limit for donating has been eliminated, with donors over the age of 71 no longer needing an assessment form before donating blood.
• Donors who have a history of most cancers are now be eligible to donate after they have been cancer-free for five years. This change does not apply to those with a history of hematological cancers, such as lymphomas, leukemia or melanoma.
• Donors who have recently received most vaccines, such as a flu shot, will no longer need to wait two days before donating blood.
• Donors who were born in or lived in some African countries (Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Niger and Nigeria) are now eligible to donate.
• Geographic deferrals affecting Western Europe have been revised based on scientific evidence that indicates the risk of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), or mad cow disease, has decreased since January 2008.
• Donors who spent five years or more in Western Europe since 1980 are deterred from donating blood. However, donors who reached the five-year limit in Western Europe after 2007 will be eligible.
The complete policy changes are available at blood.ca/en/blood/ recent-changes-donation-criteria.
Donors who were turned away in the past due to the former restrictions, but would like to return, are invited to visit a clinic or call 1-888-2DONATE to book an appointment.
People can visit blood.ca or download the GiveBlood app to discover multiple ways to donate or to book an appointment.
Enjoy art and music in the garden
Enjoy live music, admire local artwork and spend a leisurely time among summer flowers at the Arts and Music fundraiser held in the Gardens at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, next Saturday and Sunday.
For two days, the spectacular summer floral display will be complemented by live music from some of Victoria’s finest musicians. Genres range from funky marimba to exquisite mandolin music in the Takata Japanese Garden.
Artists’ work includes paintings, ceramics, woodworking, jewelry, glass, textiles and more, created by more than 40 local artists.
Two of the highlights include the Vancouver Island Bonsai Society’s sale of Bonsai plants and a display of large floral land installations by the Victoria Floral Artists Guild.
There will be a variety of food trucks on site during the event.
The event is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, a not-for-profit organization that delivers high-quality horticulture education to people of all ages. The event takes place on the property, which includes 41 hectares of themed gardens, woodlands and wetlands.
Tickets are $12, which allows multiple entries during both days. The event runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the centre, 505 Quayle Rd. Purchasing tickets in advance (250-479-6162) will save $1 and avoid a lineup. For more information, go to hcp.ca.
Multicultural daycare needs a boost
The Victoria Native Friendship Centre is appealing for donations to help fund the XaXe STELITKEL (Sacred and Precious) Daycare, a multicultural licensed child-care facility.
A building that will house the daycare is 90 per cent complete, and the centre is hoping to raise additional funds to allow it to open its doors by September.
Donors will be acknowledged at the facility’s grand opening with their name appearing on the Wall of Gratitude at the entrance of the daycare centre. Donors will also have their names entered in a draw for a framed limited-edition print by an indigenous artist.
The daycare will accept as many as 70 infants, toddlers and children up to six years of age.
Charitable tax receipts will be provided. Cash, cheques or money orders — made out to Victoria Native Friendship Centre with a notation to Daycare — can be dropped off or mailed to 231 Regina Ave., Victoria, V8Z 1J6.
Retired nurse honoured as health-care hero
Heather Dunne, a former Vancouver Island nurse, was recently named British Columbia’s Health Care Hero at the 2016 Excellence in B.C. Health Care Awards.
The longtime nurse, who retired last month, was recognized for her advocacy for increasing the role of nurse practitioners and for her commitment to patients in Ladysmith and North Cowichan.
“I am simply overcome with all kinds of emotions,” Dunne said of the honour. “I am thrilled to be recognized by my peers and colleagues, and sad to be leaving such incredible people who are so committed to our organization and the people we serve. It has been a privilege to work at Island Health, and this is just a wonderful way to end my career.”
During a career that spanned five decades, she played a leading role in developing and implementing numerous programs and care models focused on caring for an aging population.
Among her achievements:
• Hiring the first nurse practitioner at Island Health, and being a advocate for expansion of the role;
• Working to break down barriers and forge fruitful partnerships with the First Nations Health Authority and communities in the North Cowichan area;
• Implementing a Seniors at Risk program to provide support for vulnerable seniors;
• Leading the North Cowichan Primary Care Development Group as it worked toward improving care for older adults;
• In partnership with Stzùminus First Nation, establishing the first nurse-practitioner clinic in that community.
The B.C. Health Care Awards celebrates successes in the health-care community. They recognize workplace teams, individuals and organizations who strive to support better health care and system sustainability.
For more information about the winners, go to heabc.bc.ca/ Page4596.aspx.
Grandmothers will cycle again for Africa
A group of mothers and grandmothers in Victoria will saddle up once again to raise money for their African “sisters.”
Victoria Grandmothers for Africa is a local group of women, 55 and older, who are part of the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, an initiative of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
The local group is one of 250 across Canada, from Victoria to St. John’s, N.L., that raise money and awareness for grandmothers in Africa. Members raise money for community projects to help destitute African grandmothers raise their grandchildren, as their own children have been victims of the AIDS pandemic.
The local group boasts about 100 grandmothers who have raised almost $1 million in the past 10 years.
Working groups within the local chapter raise money in various ways: creating and selling crafts, baking and knitting; hosting a Stride to Turn the Tide walk; hosting an African dinner that draws about 300 guests; and one-off events such as a learn-to-drum evening.
But their biggest fundraiser by far is their three-day, 275-kilometre bicycle tour that debuted in 2007. At this event, a maximum of 30 women cyclists over the age of 55 ride from Campbell River to Victoria.
This event alone raised almost $500,000. Eight grandmother groups along the route also participate by offering food and refreshment — and encouragement — to the cyclists.
Last year, they added a one-day 50-kilometre tour as well. Although the two tours start at different times, they both end at the Legislature on Grandparents’ Day, which falls on Sept. 11 this year.
There is still time to take part or to pledge a rider for either event. For more information, go to victoriagrandmothersforafrica.ca.
Donation will aid marine training
To support the growth, productivity and competitiveness of the shipbuilding and repair sector in B.C., the Canadian Institute of Marine Engineering recently made a donation to Victoria’s Industrial Marine Training and Applied Research Centre.
The Vancouver Island branch of the institute presented a cheque for $1,500 to go toward creating an award that recognizes the top students in entry-level training courses.
The centre functions as a focal point in co-ordinating and facilitating workforce development and applied research.
The institute aims to advance and promote the science and practice of marine engineering, naval engineering, naval architecture, ocean engineering, marine electrics/electronics, control engineering and other associated professions. The Vancouver Island branch is one of seven across the country. The branch had also given a grant to the Western Maritime Institute, located near Ladysmith.
For more information, go to cimare.ca.